(From Bob Lefsetz' website)

Amazon’s Music Service

This is a non-story.

Amazon is a money-losing company run by an egomaniac that gets more press than it deserves. It keeps on changing strategy. Building distribution methods and then changing course when it finds they’re unprofitable. And, speaking of profits, the company derives a large part of its income from selling USED items. Yup, they make more selling a USED CD than a new one. Yet, the major labels see the Seattle company as its savior. Demonstrating their ignorance once again.

Despite the brand name, Amazon doesn’t sell that many discs. Sure, it sells them via the Net, but it’s dwarfed by big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy. And, if having a foothold in CDs gave one an advantage in the digital sphere, why hasn’t Wal-Mart’s music store taken off? Especially since the tracks are CHEAPER!

A subscription service. Let’s not call it that. Let’s call it RENTAL!

If rental were such a good deal, if the public found it so appealing, why is Blockbuster on the verge of disaster? Why are people BUYING so many DVDs when they can rent them so cheaply? America has an ownership culture. Sure, in the future there might be a migration to service, but not TODAY! Not until a much younger set comes of age.

Let’s see how you sell this. For fifteen bucks a month you can have access to ALL the music. Well, not the Beatles or Led Zeppelin. And not every track on every album… And, if you don’t keep paying, you lose IT ALL! Shit, sounds more like radio than conventional music purchasing.

And what are the odds that independent company Amazon can create a system that actually works, when its Seattle counterpart Microsoft has been unable to do this? I mean maybe if Google moved into the sphere I might be impressed. Then again, Google Video is a disaster, and rather than deliver a quality product without glitches, Google just labels all its efforts "beta", so you’ll forgive them. That’s what we need, a BETA music service to compete with Apple’s seamless solution.

Amazon IS correct in deciding to deliver files along with CDs.

But the fucked up labels can’t agree on a price. Even though you can buy a CD and rip it FOR FREE! Paying NOTHING extra for the files.

Oh yeah, copy protection will foil that. And destroy your business, just ask kicked upstairs Andy Lack. And then there’s the ridiculous position of the RIAA that ripping is illegal. What’s next, is the RIAA gonna post a cop in every kid’s basement? THIS is a strategy that’s gonna win. Actually, after seven years, hasn’t the RIAA realized a legal solution IS NOT the answer?

And Sony discontinued the Bean. And Creative keeps hemorrhaging money. But somehow AMAZON is gonna come up with a product that will look better and function as well as an iPod. Shit, are you DREAMING?

It takes software AND hardware. And Apple has a huge investment in both, has for over twenty five years. You think this isn’t an advantage? Or, better yet, you think two separate companies, Amazon and its hardware partner, share the same desires, are gonna be on an equal path? Especially with Amazon’s history of screwing its partners, a la Toys R Us?

One of the fucked up things about conventional journalism, a la the "Wall Street Journal" and "New York Times", is that they’re so busy being evenhanded that they miss the story, there’s no analysis. Didn’t Paul Krugman say if the President declared the earth was flat the paper would present this view reasonably, and not say he’s OUT OF HIS MIND?

And yes, Mr. Krugman is on the editorial page of the "Times", but his beat doesn’t include technology, and Tom Friedman rarely addresses it. And therefore one is DRIVEN to the Net to get the real skinny on a story, from people not enthralled by that bozo Jeff Bezos.

There IS a subscription business. Real’s Rhapsody is satisfying the demand.

It’s just not a mainstream business today.

And, what ever happened to the hype about Yahoo Music? Heard anything about THAT subscription service recently?

Really. The labels hate Apple because the Cupertino company knows more about its customers than they do. But rather than wake up to reality, they want to throw in with new players willing to throw money down a hole playing by their rules unsuccessfully, like the new Napster.

How many times do we have to see this movie? Of the labels proffering services the public doesn’t want?

The public wants to OWN a LOT of files for a CHEAP price. This is what’s going to end up happening. This IS what’s happening, via P2P and ripping and hard drive swapping. Can’t the industry get in bed with the consumer instead of asshole businessmen looking to make a killing?

Really. Don’t even bother to call me when this Amazon service goes live, if it even launches at all. It’s IRRELEVANT!

Really. Don’t even bother to call me when this Amazon service goes live, if it even launches at all. It’s IRRELEVANT!

Come off it! You have deals with ITunes and Napsters...you yourself said it was ok to use these services...MMMM some boycott. Rest assured you'll bash AMAZON but rationalize when it's found out this site displays their ads and the like. Want a "real" boycott? Avoid anything the cartel sets up....PERIOD!
No games, no p2p, no shirts, no movies...nothing.

And is it just me or does the word fuck coming from a lawyer rob him of all credibility...Not only that but displays how much of an angry little man he really is!

Pathetic!!

Queen Elizabeth farts, too, or so I am told.

I don't think leflaw wrote this article PenisBrain. I think it came from the Bob Lefsetz's letter.

It doesn't sound like leflaw wrote this story, but who gives a shit if a lawyer says fuck? I mean, it certainly doesn't give him credibility... but it doesn't rape him of it either if a lawyer used that word, talking frank outside the office with non-co-workers. I'm 9O% sure leflaw didn't write this... but it doesn't mean shit he, or any other lawyer, uses a curse word outside of the court, office or clients. Leflaw sounds like a good lawyer, in my book.

I'm unbiased, and I had to say that. But, I agree with you, uhh... "penisbrain" (nice name) about bashin' corporate American 'n' sh*t yet displaying ads like this one above this page (to all dmusic.com views, I’m on boycott-riaa.com)...

“Shop for CDs Online
One Site, Hundreds of Stores and Money Back Every Time You Shop! Buy Music CDs $5.99 Each
Unlimited CDs for $5.99 each & Free Shipping. Join Free Today!

Ads by Goooooogle Advertise on this site”

Dmusic.com makes money from the artists themselves by allowing them to advertise, which is cool ‘cuz they’re hosting files ‘n’ stuff and really helping artists out. They also make money from displaying outside ads, which I guess I can understand… but I don’t understand why boycott-riaa.com has ads. I mean, they’re not hosting any files, and independentmusician / shmoo / mike runs and finds news for BC-R for free (I assume), which D-music uses on their web site… so why does boycott-riaa.com have ads? Is Napster a good thing? I hope so, because there are two Napster ads on the front of BC-R. (reminder; independentmusician is not in charge of that kinda’ stuff)

The ads are to help pay for the server costs. I don't know if leflaw has the ability to filter the enemy ads or not. (I think maybe with the google ads it is possible?)

But we, as a community have chatted about the ads before and the majority of those who cared to state an opinion were of the mindset that we outta just let the RIAA and Napster & etc. ads continue to appear (thereby ironically letting them help pay for our existance.)

...but, if anyone doesn't want the enemy ads. Make your voice heard! If enough of you let leflaw know that you don't want them, he might do something about it if he is able.

Use the "Welcome/Sound Off" thread (that's the sorta thing it is there for) ...or, you send an e-mail or dnote to leflaw.

I don't think that in the long run a subscription service will be the answer, either.

Adds what adds?
I subscribe don't have to see them at DMusic.
I think its great that the enemy helps pay for the servers

"The public is determined to OWN a lot of files for a CHEAP price. That IS what's happening, via P2P and ripping and hard-drive swapping."

Meanwhile, the RIAA keeps struggling to row their boat (entitled "failed business model" painted on its side)
upstream against a very swift current of what the public wants.

Even tho I am an admin here at Boycott-Riaa AND a Dmusic artist, my own account at Dmusic is not a "paid subscriber account", and thus, I do see the banner ads and such. ...but just getting rid of the "ads" while on Dmusic pages isn't a "reason" to subscribe IMHO.

The "value" of having a subscriber account over at Dmusic (if you are an artist or whatever) is probably more-so in paying for more STORAGE space for your songs and other such REAL benefits.

--but if gurdonark is talking about being a "suscriber" over here on the Boycott-Riaa pages... I don't see what the benefit could possibly be. (Other than having the $$$ used to help pay the server and etc. costs of maintaining the site!)

======
Change tracks...

If gurdonark is talking about Dmusic's attempt to generate "revenue"... To tell the truth, I AGREE with the assessment.

I don't think it is possible to get enough of even the most die-hard Dmusic artists and/or fans to become subscribers to pay for even the operation costs.

I could be wrong, and I do NOT ever see the books, but I strongly suspect that leflaw has NEVER had any profit from Dmusic. In my guesstimation/assessment, our patron "the allmighty leflaw" likely pays out the butt from out of his own pocket to keep these sites up-and-running because of his own philisophical beliefs/interests/credo/desire to see INDEPENDENT MUSIC have a chance in the world.

I don't think Dmusic Network has ever made a dime! (I could be wrong, I could be totally oblivious to some "revenue stream" that I am totally unaware of...)

...but as of YET, the ONLY reason Dmusic and Boycott-Riaa still exist is BECAUSE leflaw's own pocket WISHES us to BE!

(Again, I must stress that this is all IMHO & stuff based on my own observations as a participant... I don't really KNOW. Maybe the very small intrusive banner ads are a heck of a lot more lucrative than I guess??? Maybe there is something I am not taking into account?)

=================

Point being... If I am correct in my assumptions that Dmusic Networks is not yet a "money-maker"

...well then, I start being in fear.

(What if leflaw's altruistic $$$ runs out???)

...what if he is forced to "close shop?"

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To prevent such a nightmarish loss to us all... HOW and WHAT can we do to come up with a FAIR to ALL "business model"???

I suggested a "sponsorship of Dmusic Artists" thingy a couple weeks ago where advertisers would pay for the banner ads on individual artists' pages (and the artist and Dmusic would split the net gains 50/50 or some-such.)

leflaw and some of you were kinda stoked on that idea...

...but that was just ONE idea!

Let's see some MORE ideas where the artists, Dmusic, (and, if possible, EVEN the fans/users) can ALL win!

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Folks, Dmusic is NOT just another "MP3.com" -- leflaw and Dmusic are NOT out here to promote "indie-music" at first, then turn around and royally screw us. (If that were the case, it woulda happened already!)

Keep this kinda thinking in your mind.

Post your ideas for how to "make it work" (for the benefit of all of us) at ANY time in ANY thread that appears here at Dmusic and/or over on MY site... http://Boycott-Riaa.com

======================

leflaw, censor/delete this post if I said too much!

I'm just trying to get folks to "grok" and/or participate...

...but who knows, I am maybe/possibly way off-base about things.

lol

Not that far off

"You have deals with ITunes and Napsters...you yourself said it was ok to use these services...MMMM some boycott"
so Itunes and Walmart are willing to allow the truely independant in along with the RIAA-backed? Perhaps some corperations aint so evil? Are they on the offical "Dmusic/Boycott-Riaa approved" list yet? Maybe Itunes and Walmart dont wish to get stuck in the Dinosaur's Tar and die along with 'em...

"And is it just me or does the word fuck coming from a lawyer rob him of all credibility"

It's just you.

Some people want to boycott 7-11 since Hilary Rosen eats twinkies.